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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#49: Worth the Wait

Mrs. Dalloway follows a woman running errands in preparation for a party she's hosting that evening. A Single Man depicts a day-in-the-life of a professor. Molly Fox’s Birthday features one friend housesitting for another.

Of course, these novels are actually about much more than their mundane premises may imply. That's the wonderful thing about fiction: something as ordinary as running errands can turn into wildly different stories at the hands of different authors.

This week, we're working with a similarly mundane premise (on the surface, anyway): waiting. It's up to you to dig beneath the surface of banality to reveal the interesting story happening underneath!

This week's prompts

Write a story that takes place in a waiting room.

Thriller and Suspense – 256 stories

Write a story about a person waiting for an answer to a question.

Thriller and Suspense – 171 stories

Write a story about waiting — but don't reveal what's being waited for until the very end.

Nonfiction – 323 stories

Write a story about a relationship where one person is always running late and the other is constantly kept waiting.

Romance – 108 stories

Write a story about two strangers chatting while waiting for something.

Dialogue – 196 stories

Stories

“The letter that changed everything.” by Brooklyn Sides

Submitted to Contest #49

“Good morning Mr Parnell” Alaina said, she was grinning ear to ear. It was early in the morning and Alaina was ever so happy. The ships bells banged in the distance as a new vessel had arrived into town. “Well good morning there Alaina. How do you do?”“Why i’m spectacular! Here, I would like to send this to New York please!” Alaina said with delight. This had been her dream for so long and it had finally came true! For her (almost) entire life Alaina had spent her time in the most horrendous and awful orphanage. Full of sorrow and shame, she...

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“People aren't as they Appear” by Aisha Makama

Submitted to Contest #49

“Oh my gosh Will, what if she says no?” I say to Will in a worried voice. “You worry too much. Just go up to her and ask her already.” Will tells me. Will is my best friend. We have known each other since we were five. He's always supported me through all my dark times with my parents' divorce, bullies, rejections and other stuff. I am nervous today because I am about to ask Jasmine on a date. I don’t even know why I'm even doing this...

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“Supernova” by Josh C

Submitted to Contest #49

They gathered in silence, lost in their own thoughts in the observation deck of the research station, Jupiter visible through the windows as if hanging against the starlit sky. From their station the gas giant’s red, brown and orange storms looked frozen in time, even though they all knew that the storms were raging at hundreds of miles per hour. James broke the uncomfortable silence with the words he was sure all the scientists in the room were thinking were thinking. “Did we doom us all?” No one answered. No one could know. Not for anoth...

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“Corporate Baby ” by Bee Kagz

Submitted to Contest #49

She looked around her third floor apartment and imagined all the changes she would have to make if he accepted her request. She wondered if she’d have to move to a bigger house with a backyard and a bigger kitchen, or if her coach was comfortable enough. She liked the building on Falcon Street the first time she set her eyes on it; it was particularly refreshing that the window in the sitting room overlooked the street. It was a normal street but watching people live life on the street for five years was her favorite thing to do; the ol...

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“one is a kite” by Mollie A

Submitted to Contest #49

“Do you want to come with me?” I look from Anna’s brown eyes downward to her fingers that grasped tightly onto the hands of her two boys on either side of her. Their brown eyes were curious; awaiting an answer just like their mom was. I told Anna I wanted more time to think, and if I could get back to her. Anna gave me a half smile and a small nod. She told me to take whatever time I needed and that there was always room for me, no matter what. With that, Anna left to take her children to school, and I watched her leave. Then I walked ba...

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“The Branded One” by Zion Hintay

Submitted to Contest #49

Onima Datsu sat rigidly on his knees. In quiet revery.Beside him was a monk. Wearing a simple blue and white habit and his crown was shaved down to the skin. He had a look of knowing the unknown about him which unsettled Datsu.His name was Tian. And he was a disciple of the master he came to see, Rhen Khi. Master of the mind and body. He had once been the world's best bounty hunter, but he abandoned that life to pursue a life of peace and prosperity of the soul.Datsu envied the man and his disciple."How m...

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“She Did It” by Robin Owens

Submitted to Contest #49

I’m disgusted by her doe eyes and half grin that she had plastered onto her face during the entire trial. She’s a psychopath, possibly demon-possessed. I’m the only one who knows the truth. She knows that I know. That’s why she was able to bat those flashy eyelashes and look everyone in the eye in the courtroom, the judge, the jury, even my husband’s mother, and never once could bring herself to look at me. She knew where I was sitting because I sat in the same spot every day of the trial, my grieving mother-in-law t...

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“Neon Lights” by Kate Alexandra

Submitted to Contest #49

Elaine pushed a row of books over with a satisfying thwack. “I have a question for Mr.Galen” she stated, meeting two green eyes on the other side of the bookshelf. “A very serious question” The green eyes crinkled, and a laugh escaped. “really? I’m sure he’ll be surprised” The boy said, sarcasm dripping from his tone. “this time, it’s truly serious Christopher” she snapped, defiantly wiping the dust from her fingers. The boy’s black hair swung over his eyes, clear suspicion on his face. “last time you aske...

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“Time Waits For No Man ” by Tanja Cilia

Submitted to Contest #49

- It’s totally bizarre, really. Who would have thought that what she ate would lead them to me? - Oh, science, these days; it’s almost miraculous. - I mean, I made sure that the table I chose was one of the two that is not covered by security cameras. Remember, I had worked as a Manager at the Hotel, so I knew all the insider information. - But surely you ...

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“Frogs in Hot Water” by Rema Teller

Submitted to Contest #49

They were waiting while the ice caps melted into the sea. The sound of ice, the size of small countries, breaking apart, disappearing into the ocean. A deep rumble that would shake them to their core but it was rumbling in places they couldn’t reach. Places they could ignore. Maybe if they could hear it, if they could feel it, it would make them shudder. But they didn’t listen. The water was too cold yet, too icy and far away. But, even from far away, it began to touch them, some of them—not enough. Flood water to the knees. Places disappear...

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“Great Importance ” by E. Abraham

Submitted to Contest #49

A figure in a dark grey coat bolted out of the shadows and into the alleyway. It was a damp night, a fog parading the streets after that morning’s heavy dose of rain. Small droplets of water dew dotted the grey coat, shimmering in the flickering light of the streetlamp. The figure paused by a doorway, seeming to check the faded address plastered to the wall before nodding to themselves and knocking a quick sharp knock on the rusted metal door. The door opened a hair’s width and a soft voice demanded a name. “Rothsford,” The figure re...

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“RETURN TO GUERNICA” by Paul Rouse

Submitted to Contest #49

He had seen it many times before, of course, in books, magazines, prints. But never the actual painting itself. In the flesh, as it were. It had genuinely taken his breath away. For one thing, he hadn't appreciated the sheer scale. It must have been twenty, twenty-five feet across, he guessed. And the colours too. Or rather lack of them. He hadn't realised. He had always assumed it was because he had only ever seen black and white reproductions. But that was all there was. Just black and white, together with a sort of blue-grey wash. But it ...

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“We Are Ready For You Now” by Debbie Teague

Submitted to Contest #49

It seemed like Jo had been here forever – the old cliché was true apparently about time passing ever so slowly while you are waiting for something. Deep breath, deep breath, relax. She checked her hair, her make-up – all good. Making a good impression was critical she thought. Jo had received the call and was expected to arrive promptly. She would receive further instructions at the appropriate time. No time to settle things where she was now, just go. Intriguing, she thought. They must think she’s up to ...

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“Worth The Wait” by Tracy Thomson

Submitted to Contest #49

Turbulence hit just as I sipped my gin and tonic. So wearisome, but like loose ends, spills can soon be dealt with. These post pandemic days made me surprisingly chatty. I ordered another drink and asked if my aisle-seat neighbour wanted one. He refused saying he’d be driving. Yes, I said, I was lucky someone was picking me up. The drink came with a complimentary packet of crispy, dog shaped snacks. I’d have enjoyed them if my new best friend hadn’t told me of the time he visited South Korea, “It’s a tough meat, I just drank the broth.” Co...

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“Late Night Thoughts – Tim Horton’s World” by Wayne Hebb

Submitted to Contest #49

Since the Covid-19 came in to play, I find we are living in a Tim Horton’s world. I do not know what it is like in the rest of the world but here in St. John’s in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, we line up for everything. We line up to get in, we line up to get out. Some places, like Kent, you have to line up for the main store, line up to get out, line up for the lumber yard, line up to get out, line up for the garden centre and line up to get out. Even going to the dump on a Tuesday, you must line up fo...

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$50

Prize money

1054

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jul 10, 2020 EST

Won by Courtney Stuart 🏆

Title: When The Northern Lights Finally Reach You

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

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